Jig loading system

ABSTRACT

The jig loading system comprises an assembly of straps  10  for attachment to a support member  14  so as to hang downwardly in spaced apart positions. Each strap  10  has a releasable holder  16  thereon for supporting aircraft stringers  18  at spaced apart positions to enable the stringers to be positioned at the jig  24  for loading thereon. The holders  16  are loop-like and are openable and closeable by means of releasable spring clips  28 .

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a jig loading system and is primarily concernedwith a system which will enable aircraft wing stringers to be positionedat a jig for loading thereon.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Aircraft wing stringers arc commonly supplied to an aircraftmanufacturer in a long box, typically up to twenty meters in length.After unpacking the individual stringers and removing a polythenewrapping, the stringers are traditionally laid on trestles and arc thencarried individually by hand from the trestle to a jig used forassembling the wing stringers on to a wing structure. The jig isarranged vertically with the wing span extending horizontally. The jigtypically extends up to around 2.5 meters above floor level aid eachstringer needs to be fitted into a prescribed slot and clamped inposition. When all the wing stringers have been fitted into the jig, awing skin is clamped in position on the jig so as to overlie thestringers in known manner.

As will be appreciated, the aforesaid traditional method of handling thestringers is totally manual and necessitates the availability of severaloperatives to handle the long stringers. Also, because of the extremelength and slender cross section of the stringers they can easily bendand whip when being carried. The stringers are also difficult to handlewhen being mounted on the higher parts of the jig in view of their size.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is provide a jig loading system whichwill help reduce the problems outlined above and which will support wingstringers more positively at the jig prior to loading.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a jig loadingsystem comprising an assembly of elongate members for attachment to asupport member so as to hang downwardly in spaced apart positions, eachelongate member having a releasable holder thereon, the holders of theassembly being arranged to support an aircraft stringer at spaced apartpositions to enable the stringer to be supported at the jig for loadingthereon.

With a system in accordance with the invention, the stringer can besupported along its length by the holders thereby reducing significantlythe likelihood of unwanted bending or whip in the stringer duringloading on to the jig.

Preferably, the holder of each elongate member is loop-like. In such acase the loop may be openable or closeable to enable the stringer to bepositioned therein or released therefrom.

In a preferred embodiment, the holder is openable or closeable by meansof a releasable spring clip. Preferably, the spring clip can e clippedto a ring or the like to close the holder. The spring clip or the ringis preferably arranged at one end of a length of material which isattached to its elongate member and the ring or spring clip ispreferably arranged to provide an anchor which may be mounted on theelongate member to which the length of material is attached. In thepreferred embodiment, the releasable spring clip is provided at said oneend of the length of material. In such a case, a said ring may form theanchor.

The anchor may be mounted on the elongate member at a position adjacentan attachment point for an adjacent length of material which forms asaid further holder on the elongate member.

In a preferred arrangement, each clongate member has a plurality ofholders thereon at spaced apart intervals. In such a case, each holderon a said elongate member may overlap an adjacent holder to provide astaggered holder arrangement. That particular configuration providesincreased flexibility with respect to the spacing of stringers supportedby the holders. Normally, the holders on one of the spaced apartelongate members will be substantially aligned with correspondingholders on an adjacent elongate member.

Preferably, the elongate members are flexible and may conveniently takethe form of straps. The flexibility facilitates transfer of stringers tothe jig and also allows compact storage.

The moving of the stringers from the trestles to the jig involvesrepetitive journeys all taking up time and increasing the risk ofpossible damage. One of the advantages of the present invention is thatthe jig loading system can be assembled for transport as a package witha stringer in the holders. Where each of the elongate members has aplurality of holders thereon, a plurality of stringers may be positionedin the holders which are assembled as a package. For ease of unpacking,the support member is preferably attachable to the elongate members inthe package whereby the assembly of elongate members and stringers canbe unpacked by hoisting the support member by suitable means to lift theelongate members and the stringer or stringers thereon into a desiredposition at the jig. In that way, the stringers can be packed by thestringer manufacturer in such a way that the end user receives thestringers in a form ready for lifting straight up to the jig which isparticularly useful from the point of view of jig loading time and easeof handling. If desired, the support member may be attached to theelongate members in the package thereby forming part of the packageitself.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a methodof packaging aircraft wing stringers for subsequent loading on to a jig,the method comprising providing a plurality of elongate flexible supportmembers each of which has thereon a plurality of releasable holders,spacing the elongate members apart, positioning a plurality of stringersin said releasable holders so that the stringers lie alongside eachother, forming the assembled elongate members and stringers as apackage, transporting the package to a position near a jig, lifting theelongate members so as to unpack the assembly and positioning thestringers at the jig for loading thereon.

The method may include the use of features set out in any of theconsistory clauses relating to the first said aspect of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A jig loading system in accordance with the invention will now bedescribed by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawingsin which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a jig loading system inaccordance with the s invention with wing stringers in position inholders thereof,

FIG. 2 is an elevation of part of a jig loading system in accordancewith the invention in which holders are formed from lengths of materialcloseable by spring clips,

FIG. 3 is an elevation of a staggered arrangement of holders,

FIG. 4 is an edge view of one of the holders in an open position,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of two straps and the holders thereonsupporting a stringer at a jig,

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the way in which the jig loadingsystem can be folded for transport as a package,

FIG. 7 shows the way in which the package of FIG. 6 can be packed into acarrying box and

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic plan view of the box of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Looking at FIG. 1, the jig loading system comprises a plurality ofelongate members in the form of straps 10 which hang downwardly fromrings 12 or other suitable connections attached to a support member inthe form of a bar 14. Each strap 10 may be formed from a webbing-likefabric such as nylon and carries a plurality of holders 16 for wingstringers 18. It will be noted that the holders 16 on the straps 10 aresubstantially aligned with respective holders 16 of neighbouring straps10 so as to support the stringers 18 at intervals over the major lengthof each stringer. The support bar 14 can be connected to an overheadcrane by means of a chain 20. In that way the support bar 14 can behoisted so as to position the stringers 18 substantially oppositehorizontal rows of recesses 22 in a jig 24 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). Once inthat position, the holders 16 are opened one at a time to enable thestringers 18 to be located in the recesses 22, the remaining holders 16continuing to support the stringers 18 while that is being done. As willbe appreciated, such an arrangement provides a means of supporting thestringers 18 at the jig 24 without requiring several workers to do so.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 5 it will be seen in FIG. 2 that each hangingstrap 10 carries strips of material 26 which are attached at upper endsas viewed in the drawings to the strap 10 and have spring retainingclips 28 of known kind at their lower ends. Immediately above each strip26 is an anchor 30 comprising a metal ring 32 held in a loop of material34 attached to the strap 10.

As shown in FIG. 3, the straps 10 can be made wide to enable the strips26 and rings 32 to be staggered to keep strap length to a minimum. Oneof the holders 16 indicated at A is closed and one holder indicated at Bis open.

In each of the above cases, the strips 26 and associated rings 32 on onestrap 10 are substantially in horizontal alignment with correspondingstrips 26 and rings 32 of neighbouring straps 10.

In order to form a holder 16, a spring clip 28 is lifted as shown byarrow L in FIG. 4 and is clipped on to the associated ring 32 as shownin FIG. 5. A stringer 18 can be retained in the holder 16 as shown inFIGS. 5 and 6. From FIG. 5 it will be seen that when a stringer 18 issupported by the holders 16, the strap 10 is positioned vertically toalign the stringer with a row of recesses 22 in the jig 24, only two ofsuch recesses can be seen in FIG. 5. Once the stringer 18 has beenaligned with the recesses 22, the holders 16 can be opened in turn byreleasing the spring clips 28 from the rings 32 to enable the stringer18 to be placed in the recesses 22 in the jig 24.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 to 8, the holders 16 on the straps 10 can beloaded with stringers 18 at the factory of a stringer manufacturer andthe straps 10 can be folded in concertina manner as shown in FIGS. 6 and7. Preferably, the upper ends of the straps 10 will be attached to thesupport bar 14 at suitable spaced positions. The folded straps 10 withthe stringers 18 in situ are then packed in a box 34 which is fittedwith a lid 36 for transporting to a wing build section at the factory ofan aircraft manufacturer. Once the box has reached its destination, thebox 34 is positioned near the jig 24 and the lid 36 is removed. Anoverhead crane is then used to hoist the support bar 14 and lift thestraps 10 into positions next to the jig 24 to align the stringers 18With the recesses 22 in the jig 24 ready for loading. The spacing of thestrips 26 on the straps 10 is designed to match the spacing requirementsof the stringers 18 for the particular jig 24 concerned.

The invention significantly reduces jig loading time and the risks anddifficulties involved in having to carry the stringers 18 manually froman unpacking point to a loading position at the jig 24.

What is claimed is:
 1. An aircraft assembly jig loading systemcomprising: a support member; a plurality of elongate members, each ofsaid elongate members is attached at one end to said support member inspaced apart positions along said support member, each elongate memberhanging downward from said support member; and at least one releasableholder on each elongate member, the holders positioned to support atleast one aircraft stringer at spaced apart positions to enable thestringer to be supported at an aircraft assembly jig for loadingthereon, wherein the holder of each elongate member is a loop.
 2. Anaircraft assembly jig loading system comprising: a support member; aplurality of elongate members, each of said elongate members is attachedat one end to said support member in spaced apart positions along saidsupport member, each elongate member hanging downward from said supportmember; and at least one releasable holder on each elongate member, theholders positioned to support at least one aircraft stringer at spacedapart positions to enable the stringer to be supported at an aircraftassembly jig for loading thereon, in which the holder can be opened toenable the stringer to be positioned therein and released therefrom, inwhich the holder is openable by means of a releasable spring clip,wherein the spring clip can be clipped to a ring to close the holder. 3.A jig loading system according to claim 2 which one of the spring clipand ring is arranged at one end of a strip of material which is attachedto its elongate member and the other of the ring and spring clip isarranged to provide an anchor.
 4. A jig loading system according toclaim 3 in which the anchor is mounted on the elongate member to whichthe strip of material is attached.
 5. A jig loading system according toclaim 3 in which the anchor is mounted on the elongate member at aposition adjacent an attachment point for an adjacent strip of materialwhich forms a further holder on the elongate member.
 6. An aircraftassembly jig loading system comprising: a support member; a plurality ofelongate members, each of said elongate members is attached at one endto said support member in spaced apart positions along said supportmember, each elongate member hanging downward from said support member;and at least one releasable holder on each elongate member, the holderspositioned to support at least one aircraft stringer at spaced apartpositions to enable the stringer to be supported at an aircraft assemblyjig for loading thereon, in which each elongate member has a pluralityof holders thereon at spaced apart intervals, wherein each holder on asaid elongate member overlaps an adjacent holder to provide a staggeredholder arrangement.
 7. An aircraft assembly jig loading systemcomprising: a support member; a plurality of elongate members, each ofsaid elongate members is attached at one end to said support member inspaced apart positions along said support member, each elongate memberhanging downward from said support member; and at least one releasableholder on each elongate member, the holders positioned to support atleast one aircraft stringer at spaced apart positions to enable thestringer to be supported at an aircraft assembly jig for loadingthereon, wherein the elongate members are flexible.
 8. A jig loadingsystem according to claim 7 in which the elongate members are in theform of straps.
 9. A method of packaging aircraft stringers inaccordance with the jig loading system comprising: a support member; aplurality of elongate members, each of said elongate members is attachedat one end to said support member in spaced apart positions along saidsupport member, each elongate member hanging downward from said supportmember; and at least one releasable holder on each elongate member, theholders positioned to support at least one aircraft stringer at spacedapart positions to enable the stringer to be supported at an aircraftassembly jig for loading thereon, said system for subsequent assembly ata jig, the method comprising: positioning a plurality of stringers insaid releasable holders so that the stringers lie alongside each other,forming the assembled elongate members and stringers as a package,transporting the package to an aircraft assembly jig, and lifting thesupport member by suitable means so as to unpack the assembly andposition the stringers at the jig for loading thereon.